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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 

Water-supply Paper 377 



PROFILE SURVEYS 

IN 



SPOKANE RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON 



AND 



JOHN DAY RIVER BASIN, OREGON 



PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

R. B. MARSHALL. Chief Geographer 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1915 



Won, 



Qgraph 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



Water -Supply Paper 377 



PROFILE SURVEYS 

IN 



SPOKANE RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON 



AND 



JOHN DAY RIVER BASIN, OREGON 



PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

R. B. MARSHALL, Chief Geographer 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1915 



Cf, 



37^ 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction 3 

Spokane River basin, Washington 3 

General features 3 

Gaging stations 5 

John Day River basin, Oregon 6 

General features q 

Gaging stations 1 q 

Publications 7 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Plates I-III. Plan and profile of Spokane River from mouth to Chamo- 

kane Creek, Wash. (3 sheets, A-C) At end of volume. 

IV-X. Reconnaissance plan and profile of John Day River from 

mouth to Middle Fork, Oreg. (7 sheets, A-G)_ At end of volume. 
98107°— 15 

2 



D. of D. 
NOV 8 1915 



w 



PROFILE SURVEYS IN SPOKANE RIVER BASIN, WASH- 
INGTON, AND JOHN DAY RIVER BASIN, OREGON. 



Prepared under the direction of R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer. 



INTRODUCTION. 

In order to determine the location of undeveloped water powers 
on the rivers of the United States, the United States Geological Sur- 
vey has from time to time made surveys and profiles of some of the 
streams adapted to the development of power by low or medium 
heads of 20 to 100 feet. 

The surveys are made by means of plane table and stadia. Eleva- 
tions are based on heights derived from primary or precise levels of 
the United States Geological Survey. The maps are made in the 
field and show not only the outlines of the river banks, the islands, 
the positions of rapids, falls, shoals, and existing dams, and the 
crossings of all ferries and roads but the contours of banks to an 
elevation high enough to indicate the possibility of using the stream. 
The elevations of the bench marks left are noted on the field sheets 
in their proper positions. All gaging stations are shown on the 
maps, and the elevation of the zero of the gage is given. 

SPOKANE RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON. 
GENERAL FEATURES. 

Spokane Elver rises in Cceur d'Alene Lake in western Idaho, flows 
west and northwest, and discharges into Columbia River near Fort 
Spokane, Wash. 

Cceur d'Alene Lake, which receives the drainage from the western 
slope of the Bitterroot Mountains, occupies a wide valley. Its upper 
end is within the area formerly reserved for the Cceur d'Alene 
Indians. The lands bordering it are for the most part low and 
swampy, and the lake itself is being gradually filled by sediment 
brought in by St. Joe and Cceur d'Alene rivers, its principal tribu- 
taries. Undoubtedly the lake once extended a considerable distance 
up the valleys of these streams, and for 15 or 20 miles above their 
mouths the bottom lands are subject annually to overflow, except 

3 



4 PROFILE SURVEYS, SPOKANE AND JOHN DAY RIVERS. 

where the rivers are artificially confined in their channels. Along 
the immediate banks of the streams the land is relatively higher 
than that nearer the hills. The channels of the lower sections of the 
rivers are comparatively deep and are favorable for navigation. 
The valleys are used more or less for agriculture. 

The principal tributaries received by Spokane River between the 
lake and the Columbia are Latah or Hangman Creek, which enters the 
stream from the south near Spokane, Wash.; Little Spokane River, 
which comes in from the north about 12 miles below Spokane; and 
Chamokane Creek, which is tributary from the north and forms the 
eastern boundary of the Spokane Indian Reservation. Its drainage 
area comprises about 5,880 square miles. Nearly all of the upper 
portion is heavily forested and a large area is included in the Cceur 
d'Alene National Forest. 

The topography of the country is rugged and broken. The valley's 
sides are very steep and many of the peaks rise to regions of per- 
petual snow. 

The mean annual rainfall at Spokane is 17 inches; at St. Maries, 
20 inches; and on the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains it is 
probabky 50 inches or more. A large portion of the precipitation, 
particularly at the higher altitudes, is in the form of snow whose 
gradual melting helps to feed the streams during the summer season. 
Occasionally the snow banks are melted suddenly by chinook winds, 
and when these winds are accompanied by heavy rainfall the flood 
damage is sometimes great, although its severity is mitigated to a 
large extent by the natural storage in Cceur d'Alene Lake. 

The lands bordering Spokane River are for the most part agri- 
cultural. Above Spokane the valley is comparatively wide and level 
and is underlain throughout with coarse gravel that affords ample 
ground-water storage from which a liberal supply for irrigation can 
be drawn. A gravity ditch system diverts water from the right bank 
of Spokane River at Post Falls. Below Spokane, where the river 
enters a comparatively deep canyon, the agricultural lands consist of 
narrow strips along the liver banks and are irrigated for the most 
part by pumping from the river. The lands flanking the canyon of 
Spokane River are high and are used extensively for wheat raising. 
The chief products of the region, however, are from its mines. 

The Spokane affords a large amount of power. At Post Falls, 8 
miles below the outlet of Coeur d'Alene Lake, the Washington Water 
Power Co. has constructed a dam and power plant. The crest of 
this dam is at elevation 2,116.5 feet above sea level and is provided 
with a bear-trap dam 100 feet long, by means of which the water 
can be raised 10 feet above the crest proper. There are also eight 
Tainter gates, which, when opened, afford an additional spillway 
length of 159 feet. The company's overflow privileges do not allow 



PROFILE SURVEYS, SPOKANE AND JOHN DAY RIVERS. 5 

them to raise the height of water in Coeur d'Alene Lake above an 
elevation of 2,126 feet. During floods, therefore, die Tainter gates 
are opened and the bear-trap dam is lowered in order to afford as 
large capacity of outflow as possible. When the water falls to an 
elevation of 2,126 feet in the lake the bear trap is raised and the 
Tainter gates are manipulated to maintain the water at this point 
as nearly as possible. The waters so stored are released through 
the power houses. The Post Falls plant of the Washington Water 
Power Co. has a nominal capacity of 15,000 horsepower ; the Spokane 
plant, 12,000 horsepower. The Xinemile plant ol the Spokane & 
Inland Empire Railroad Co. has a capacity of 10,000 horsepower. 
The Washington Water Power Co. has completed a plant at Little 
Falls for a development of 20,000 horsepower and has partly com- 
pleted a plant at Long Lake between Xinemile and Little Falls. 

The Long Lake plant * * * constitutes the latest and one of the most 
interesting stations on the Pacific coast. It is situated about 24 miles north- 
west of the city of Spokane and 4.5 miles from the Little Falls station of the 
same company. At the site of the station Spokane River makes a complete 
horseshoe bend and passes through a box canyon of granite formation rising 
to a height of 350 feet above the water surface. There the power company has 
erected the highest spillway dam in existence, with the power station around 
the bend about 250 feet from the dam. The dam. which is thrown across the 
river, gives a fall of 170 feet at the power house and backs up the water for 
23 miles. 1 

Another plant is projected at a favorable point 14 miles below 
Little Falls, and still another at the Narrows at the mouth of the 
river near Fort Spokane. At both- places plants of 20.000 horsepower 
capacity could be constructed. 

The results of profile surveys in the Spokane River basin are 
given in Plates I-III (at end of volume). 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The Geological Survey has maintained in the basin of Spokane 
River the gaging stations indicated by the following list. The sta- 
tions are arranged in downstream order, the position of tributaries 
being indicated by indention. A dash after the date indicates that 
the station was being maintained June SO, 1915. A period after the 
date indicates discontinuance. 

Coeur d'Alene River, North Fork (head of Coeur d'Alene River and through 
Coeur d'Alene Lake of Spokane River) at Prichard, Idaho, 1911-15. 

Coeur d'Alene River near Enaville, Idaho. 1911-12. 

Coeur d'Alene River at Cataldo, Idaho, 1911-12. 

Coeur d'Alene Lake at Coeur d'Alene. Idaho. 1903- 

Spokane River near Trent. Wash.. 1912- 

Spokane River at Washington Water Power Co. dam at. Spokane, Wash., 1891- 
1S9G. 

1 Electrical World, vol. 65, No. 22, p. 1.°>S0. May 20, 1915. 



6 PROFILE SURVEYS, SPOKANE AND JOHN DAY RIVERS. 

Spokane River at Spokane, Wash., 1896- 

Spokane Valley Land & Water Co. canal near Post Falls, Wash., 1911- 
Spokane RiVer near Long Lake, Wash., 1912 — 

Little North Fork of Cceur d'Alene River near Enaville, Idaho, 1911-12. 

St. Joe River at Avery, Idaho, 1911- 

St. Joe River near Calder. Idaho, 1911-12. 

St. Maries River at Lotus, Idaho. 1911-12. 

Latah [Hangman] Creek at Tekoa, Wash., 1904-05. 

Latah Creek near Tekoa, Wash., 1904-05. 

North Fork of Latah [Hangman] Creek at Tekoa. Wash., 1904-05. 

Little Spokane River near Spokane. Wash., 1903-1905 ; 1911- 

JOHN DAY RIVER BASIN, OREGON. 
GENERAL FEATURES. 

John Day River drains the country to the northwest of the Bine 
Mountains. The river rises on the divide between Grant and Baker 
counties, Oreg., flows westward and then northward, and joins 
Columbia River about 28 miles above The Dalles. Its principal 
tributaries are the North, Middle, and South forks. Its total drain- 
age area is 7,800 square miles. 

The general elevation of its headwaters is about 6,000 feet above 
sea level; at Fossil the elevation is 1.500 feet. The headwater region 
of the stream is forested. Except wheat, which is grown on the roll- 
ing uplands by " dry farming,-' no agricultural products of conse- 
quence can be raised without irrigation, and as the areas which 
admit of easy irrigation are confined to the immediate valleys of 
the streams comparatively little has been done in this direction. 
Several projects have been suggested under which, by means of stor- 
age reservoirs and high-line canals, large areas of very productive 
table-lands would be developed. The storage facilities are ample for 
this purpose. 

The mean annual rainfall varies from 24 inches on the headwaters 
to 10 inches at the mouth. The winters are cold, and the streams are 
frequently icebound throughout the greater part of the winter. 

The results of profile surveys in John Day River basin are given 
in Plates TV to X (at end of volume). 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The Geological Survey has maintained in the basin of John Day 
River the gaging stations indicated by the following list. The sta- 
tions are arranged in downstream order, the position of tributaries 
being indicated by indention. A dash after the date indicates that 
the station was being maintained June 30, 1915. A period after the 
date indicates discontinuance. 

John Day River near Dayville, Oreg., 190S-1914. 
John Day River at Clar.no, Oreg., 1914- 



PROFILE SURVEYS, SPOKANE AND JOHN DAY RIVERS. 7 

John Day River at McDonald, Oreg., 1904- 

South Fork of John Day River at Dayville, Oreg., 1908-1914. 

Dayville ditch at Dayville, Oreg., 1910-1914. § 

Rock Creek near Arlington, Oreg., 1905 ; 1911. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The following publications of the Geological Survey contain the 
results of investigations of stream flow at the stations indicated in the 
preceding lists: 

Spokane River basin: 

Annual Reports: Eighteenth, Part IV; Nineteenth, Part IV; Twentieth, 

Part IV ; Twenty-first, Part IV ; Twenty-second, Part IV. 
Water-Supply Papers: 11, 16, 28, 38, 39, 51, 66, 75, 85, 100. 135, 178, 214, 
252, 272, 292, 312, 332-A, 362-A, 1 392. 1 
John Day River basin : 

Water-Supply Papers: 135, 178, 214, 252, 272, 292. 312, 332-C, 362-C, 394. 1 
Water-supply papers and other publications of the United States 
Geological Survey containing data in regard to the water resources 
of the United States may be obtained or consulted as indicated below. 

1. Copies may be obtained free of charge by applying to the Direc- 
tor of the Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. The edition printed 
for free distribution is, however, small and is soon exhausted. 

2. Copies may be purchased at nominal cost from the Superin- 
tendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, 
D. C, who will on application furnish lists giving prices. 

3. Sets of the reports may be consulted in the libraries of the 
principal cities in the United States. 

4. Complete sets are available for consultation in the local offices 
of the water-resources branch of the Geological Survey, as follows: 

Albany. X. Y., Room IS, Federal Building. 

Atlanta, Ga., Post Office Building. 

St. Paul, Minn., Old Capitol Building. 

Madison, Wis., Capitol Building. 

Helena, Mont., Montana National Bank Building. 

Denver, Colo., 302 Chamber of Commerce Building. 

Salt Lake City. Utah, Federal Building. 

Boise, Idaho, 615 Idaho Building. 

Phoenix. Ariz., 417 Fleming Building. 

Portland, Oreg., 416 Couch Building. 

Tacoma, Wash., Federal Building. 

San Francisco, Cal., 505 Customhouse. 

Los Angeles, Cal., Federal Building. 

Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapiolani Building. 

A list of the Geological Survey's publications will be sent on appli- 
cation to the Director, United States Geological Survev, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

1 In preparation. 

O 



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PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SPOKANE RivER 

MOUTH TO CHAMOKANE CREEK. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 




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R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer 
T. G. Gerdme, Geographer in charge 
Topography by A. P. Meade 
Surveyed in 1912 




1,000 2,000 



jffl O Feet 
2 Kilometers 



Vertical scale 1 inch -- 40 feet 

Contour interval on land 25 feet 

Contour interval on rivet surface 5 feet 



Subject to adjustment 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SPOKANE RIVER 

MOUTH TO CHAMOKANE CREEK. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 




Marshall, Chief Geographer 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer in charge 
Topography by A. P, Meade 
Surveyed in 1912 






Vertical scale 1 inch - 40 feel 

Contour interval on land 25 feet 

funiunr interval on rivi'i surface ■ 



3 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SPOKANE RIVER 

MOUTH TO CHAMOKANE CREEK. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 






KEY MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF SHEETS 



R. B. Marshall, Chief Geograp 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer in 
Topography by A. P, Meade 







/ 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK, OREGON 



iTER. SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 



Ft. B. Marshall. Chief Geograph. 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer i 
Topography by E. L. Sellon 
Surveyed in 1909 




Subject to adjustment 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK. OREGON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 




R. B. Marshall, Chiel Geogr. 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer i 
Topography by E. L. Sellon 
Surveyed in 1909 



6 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK. OREGON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 




bject 10 adjustment 7 SHEETS 



. B. Marshall, Chief Geograph 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer in c 
Topography by E. L. Sellon 






RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK. OREGON 



ATER-SUPPIV PAPER 377 PLATE 




R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer 
T. G. Gerdrne. Geographer in charge 
Topography by E L Sella 
Surveyed in 1909 



8 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK, OREGON 




R. B. Marshall. Chief Geographer 
T G. Ge.dine, Geographer in charge 
Topography by J. L. Lewis 
Surveyed in 1909 



9 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MOUTH TO MIDDLE FORK, OREGON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 PLATE 




R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer 
T. G. Gerdine, Geographer in charge 
Topography by J. L. Lewis 
Surveyed in 1909 



10 



RECONNAISSANCE 

PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

JOHN DAY RIVER 

MQUTH TO MIDDLE FORK, OREGON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 377 




R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer 
T. G. Getdine, Geographer in charge 
Topography by J. L. Lewis 
Surveyed in 1909 



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